Tamaqua's Luke Frohnheiser, left, coach Sam Bonner, middle, and Brady McCabe, right, pose during the Blue Raiders annual football media day (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

If you’re a Tamaqua football fan, you might want to pick up a program as you enter the stadium to watch a game this season.

There are a lot of new names and new faces on this year’s Blue Raiders squad.

Tamaqua rode the strength of a strong senior class to a 7-4 record in 2024, capped by a 35-0 rout of Pequea Valley in the Eastern Conference Class 3A championship game.

Those 12 seniors graduated, leaving plenty of holes in Sam Bonner’s lineup as he prepares his club for Friday’s opener against Pen Argyl.

“I think it starts with the mentality of it … the next-man-up mentality,” senior center/linebacker Luke Frohnheiser said. “All these people that are now stepping into starting spots, have been wanting this spot, wanting to get playing time, now it’s their opportunity to shine.

“As a person who has gotten playing time, as a senior it’s my job to show them the small differences between the varsity and JV level and how to be a player at the next level.”

The Blue Raiders graduated three-year starting quarterback Luke Kane, leading rusher Bradley Whalen, leading receiver Victor Schlosser and leading tackler Tyler Koch, among several other key contributors.

Kane threw for 1,263 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago while running for 697 yards and 13 more scores. Whalen rushed for 861 yards and five TDs, while Schlosser hauled in 65 passes for 770 yards and seven TDs. He also rushed for 335 yards and four scores. Koch notched 76 tackles.

Bonner is hoping the strong work ethic established by last year’s senior class rubbed off on this year’s squad and gave them a blueprint to follow.

“We were fortunate we ended on a high note, winning the Eastern Conference championship game, and I think that gave us a lot of optimism going into the offseason,” Bonner said. “The seniors we had, I thought they did a great job of leading the team.

“Kids learn from the guys that are up in front of them. They learned a lot the last couple of years. These guys, being behind those guys, seeing how hard those guys worked and the success they had as seniors, I think it gives them motivation.”

Senior wide receiver/defensive back Brady McCabe echoed Bonner’s remarks.

Added McCabe: “They taught us to play with heart, play with chemistry. Those guys played together for so long, since they were young. That’s something we need to preach at practice. Know where our guys are at, know how each other plays so we can blend as one.”

Frohnheiser, McCabe and fellow seniors Shawn Chen, Malachi Stewart and Logan Pribila are among the few returning starters this season.

Frohnheiser, a smaller lineman at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, said the Blue Raiders have worked on a lot on building chemistry and bonding during the offseason and hopes it translates to the football field.

“We spend a lot of time together,” said Frohnheiser, who recorded 63 tackles and nine tackles for loss a year ago. “After practice, after summer workouts, we would hang out, go get lunch or something, just trying to be a team.

“We’re here a lot for football, so that helps. We all know each other from school, we’ve all been friends since we were little, so that helps. Hanging out inside football and outside football really does help.”

Tamaqua at a Glance

Head coach: Sam Bonner (19th season, 111-85)

2024 Record: 7-4, Eastern Conference Class 3A champion

Conference: Schuylkill-Colonial Red Division

3 Key Players to Watch

Brady McCabe, senior WR/LB

Malachi Stewart, senior FB/DT

Luke Frohnheiser, senior C/LB

3 Key Newcomers to Watch

Terrence McDowell, sophomore RB/DB

Ace Schickram, sophomore FL/DB

Chase Serfass, senior QB/LB

3 Key Graduation Losses

Luke Kane, QB/LB

Victor Schlosser, FL/DB

Bradley Whalen, RB/NG

Key Position Battles in Camp

Quarterback, defensive end, linebacker

New signal-caller

Kane was a fixture under center the past three seasons for Tamaqua, recording a pair of 1,000-yard passing seasons. Over the past three seasons he threw for 3,193 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 1,050 yards and 21 scores. His talent and physicality will be hard to replace.

Senior Chase Serfass, Kane’s backup the past three seasons, steps into the starting role this year. Serfass saw action in just one varsity game last season, completing 2-of-3 passes for 2 yards.

“He’s spent four years in the program. He knows the offense well,” Bonner said of the 5-11, 185-pounder. “He’s matured a lot in the offseason and he did get a lot of snaps. Even though Luke was a three-year starter for us, (Chase) was the guy for those three years taking the snaps behind him. He knows the system well.

“He’s a hard-working kid, probably made 100 percent of offseason workouts. Luke did the same thing last year as our quarterback. It puts him in position to be the starting quarterback going into the season.”

McCabe, who hauled in seven passes for 162 yards, had high praise for Serfass.

“Chase has definitely taken on more of a leadership role and more of a learning role,” McCabe said. “He’s learning as much as he can in the time we have left to play quarterback. His development has been good for us.”

Competition abounds

During Tamaqua’s football Media Day, Bonner, Frohnheiser and McCabe all talked highly of the development of sophomore running back Terrence McDowell and sophomore flanker Ace Schickram.

McDowell, who rushed 21 times for 185 yards and three TDs, figures to be the Blue Raiders’ top tailback, with Stewart moving from guard to fullback and junior Quinn Coleman also seeing reps. Schickram will join McCabe at receiver, with junior Teegan Phillips playing tight end.

“A lot of them got varsity experience when games were lopsided,” Bonner said. “They got a lot of varsity experience last year. Toward the end of the year they were getting quality varsity time.

“They’re athletic kids. They really did a great job in our JV program and were great kids in our junior high program. They’ve been in the system for four years, know the system and they will be the names you’re going to be talking about during the season.”

Up front, Frohnheiser and Pribilia will be joined by senior Logan Zimmerman, junior Flynn Coleman and sophomore Carter Trotman. Those same names will play defensively, with Chen and junior linebacker Damian Jazowski vying for time.

What excited Bonner about his squad was their intensity during offseason workouts and training camp. Sometimes when jobs are always secure, that intensity isn’t there. Kids work harder, however, when a chance to earn playing time is at stake.

“We have to mature fast to have early success. A lot of guys that are on the bubble have to step it up,” Bonner said.

“One thing I do like is we have a lot of competition. Competition makes you better and we’ve seen it throughout this camp. Kids are fighting for position to be on the field Friday night.”

Tamaqua’s Schedule

(All games start at 7 p.m.)

Friday, Aug. 22 — Pen Argyl

Friday, Aug. 29 — at North Schuylkill*

Friday, Sept. 5 — Pottsville*

Thursday, Sept. 11 — at Jim Thorpe*

Friday, Sept. 19 — Salisbury*

Friday, Sept. 26 — at Bangor*

Friday, Oct. 3 — Southern Lehigh*

Friday, Oct. 10 — Lehighton*

Friday, Oct. 17 — at Northwestern Lehigh*

Friday, Oct. 24 — at Blue Mountain*

* Schuylkill-Colonial league game

Tamaqua’s Roster